Zip-fastener

ABSTRACT

A slide fastener for engaging and disengaging two pieces of fabric having attached thereto interlocking fastener elements. The slide fastener has upper and lower cover plates forming guide channels therebetween for engaging and disengaging the fastener elements. A portion of the cover plates extend outwardly on each side of the longitudinal axis of the slider beyond the guide channel ending in curvilinear apexes. The curvilinear apexes are disposed approximately midway between longitudinal ends of the cover plates.

United States Patent Susanne Vorstelier Vienna, Austria Dec. 3, 1968 Sept. 14, 1971 Anba Sportmode Vorsteher K.G. Vienna, Austria Dec. 14, 1967 Austria inventor Appl. No. Filed Patented Assignee Priority ZlP-FASTENER 2 Claims, 2 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl. 24/205.15

Field of Search .I: 24/205.l5

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS I 8/]908 Canfield a t/205.l5 X

3/1944 Wahl 24/205.l5 UX 2,511,926 6/1950 Lukas 24/205.15 X

2,901,803 9/1959 Porepp 24/205.l5

2,909,824 10/1959 Burbank 24/205.l5 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,528,445 4/1968 France 24/205.l5

Primary Examiner-Bernard A. Gelak Attorney-Cushman, Darby & Cushman ABSTRACT: A slide fastener for engaging and disengaging two pieces of fabric having attached thereto interlocking fastener elements. The slide fastener has upper and lower cover plates forming guide channels therebetween for engaging and disengaging the fastener elements. A portion of the cover plates extend outwardly on each side of the longitudinal axis of the slider beyond the guide channel ending in curvilinear apexes. The curvilinear apexes are disposed approximately midway between longitudinal ends of the cover plates.

PATENTEU SEPI 4 I97] INVENT OR Susanne. lorskher- BY ushrmmbonb c w ATTORNEYS ZlP-FASTENER The invention refers to a zip-fastener provided with two tapes and a row of engaging closure members on each tape, and at least one slide being arranged for bringing the closure members into closed position in which the closure members of both rows are engaging one another, said slide being provided with two cover plates between which the rows of closure members are guided within guide channels. Such zip-fasteners, as a rule, are attached to the parts to be connected with one another, for instance the parts of a dress, such, that the ledges of said parts are protruding over the seams along which the tapes carrying the rows of closure members are attached to the parts of the dress, to an extent that cover lips are formed, covering the rows of closure members. When opening or closing the zip-fastener, the slide is moved along and beneath the cover lips so that, particularly when the parts to be connected consist of thin material, the cover lips are frequently grasped by the slide. Under such conditions sliding movement of the slide is impossible and it is quite difficult to get free the slide again. At such occasions the cover lips are frequently torn and, respectively, the zip-fastener becomes damaged to such an extent that it is of no more use. The sliding movement of the slide can be blocked also if the lining of the dress or of adjacent garment comes, with a border or with a plead, into the range of the slide, what is likely to happen, all the more if no cover lips are provided.

The invention now aims at avoiding said drawbacks and essentially consists in that both, the top and likewise the bottom cover plate of the slide are protruding, seen in a top plan view and in a cross section located between the ends of the guide channels, over the lateral borders of the guide channels in a direction transverse to the direction of the rows of closure members unto apexes and to an extent corresponding to at least twice the mean thickness, preferably four times to six times the mean thickness, of the cover plates of the slide, the lateral borders of the cover plates essentially continuously ex- .tending from the ends of the lateral borders of the guide channels to the apexes of the cover plates. With this the width of the slide is larger than necessary for mere opening and closing of the zip-fastener, so that the lateral edges of the slide are to a greater extent engaging the slit between the tapes carrying the closure members and the cover lips. The lateral edges of the a slide are now in the position to lift the cover lips away from the slot of the slide within which the tape carrying the closure members is running when closing or opening the zip-fastener. The more the lateral borders of the cover plates are engaging the slit between the tapes carrying the closure members and the cover lips, the more unlikely the cover lips are grasped by the slide. The upper limit of the width the slide is limited by the distance of the seam, with which the tape carrying the closure members is fixed to one of both parts to be connected with one another by means of the zip-fastener, from the row of closure members. In view of both, the top and the bottom cover plate being laterally protruding, the edges of the slide are guided along the tapes and can, irrespective of the operating position, never be lifted from the tape to such an extent that the cover plates occupy a position above the cover lip. In view of the cover plates being contoured in the range between the input end and the output end of the slide such that the slide essentially continuously assumes its maximal width between input end and output end, unobstructed sliding of the cover lipsor other cloth edges, which may have seams, i.e. thickenings, is obtained. It is essential that the lateral borders of the cover plates extend from the lateral borders of the guide channels and further extend to the apexes and thus turn away the cover lips from the slot situated between the cover plates already at the very beginning of the guide channels. In view of the apexes being located in a cross section between the ends of the guide channels, complete security against snagging of the cover lips is achieved in both directions of the movement of the slide. It is further essential that the largest width of the cover plate is restricted to the position of the apexes so that in the range of the apexes which have the greatest distance from the rows of closure members, the tapes are guided by the cover plates only along a small length. The rows of closure members are bent in the plane of the tapes by the slide so that the tapes are forming waves at a certain distance from the rows of the closure members. By restricting the guiding action exerted by the cover plates on the tapes to the apexes, jamming of said waves is avoided and unobstructed sliding movement of the slide is made possible. It is advantageous if the width of those parts of the slide protruding from the borders of the guide channels is reduced in direction to the apexes, because then the cover lips are less subjected to deformation.

As already mentioned, zip-fasteners are frequently fixed to clothes without inner closure lips. Also in this case the same effect is obtained as with respect to the cover lips, in view of the construction according to the invention, because pleads or edges of the lining or other underlying clothes cannot be grasped by the slide.

According to a preferred embodiment of the inventionthe arrangement is such that the edges of the cover plates, which edges are inwardly protruding and form a slot therebetween, are enlarged to faces the distance of which remains equal in the range of those parts of the slide laterally extending over the guide channels, and this unto the later edges of the slide. In view of the small width of the slot between the protruding parts of both cover plates of the slide, grasping of the cover lips or other fabrics is avoided in the range of the edges of the slide.

The invention is further illustrated by the accompanying drawing, in which an embodiment of the zip-fastener according to the invention is shown.

FIG. 1 is a view of the slide in direction of the arrows II of FIG. 2.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the slide in direction of the arrows Il-II of FIG. I.

The rows of closure members of the zip-fastener are designated 1. The closure members are fixed to tapes 2. 3 are the parts to be connected with one another, for instance both front parts of a garment, such as a jacket. The tapes 2 are sewn to the parts 3 along a seam 4 and, if desired, afurther seam 5.

Protruding edges of said parts 3 are forming cover lips 6 at the upper side and, if desired, also cover lips 7 at the bottom side, which cover lips cover the rows I of closure members. The slide 8 is provided with two cover plates 9 and 10 being connected by a heart piece 11. The slide 8 can be moved by means of a hoop 12.

By inwardly protruding flanges 13 of the cover plates 9 and 10 guide channels 14 are formed, into which the rows I of clo sure members are running, if the zip-fastener is being closed. By the flanges 13 also a channel 15 is formed, out of which the interlocked rows 1' of closure members are running when closing the zip-fastener. Between the inwardly protruding flanges 13 a slot 16 is provided, which accommodates the tape 2.

The inwardly protruding flanges 13 are now enlarged to laterally protruding faces 17, the distance a of which provides the slot 16 and is equal between the parts 17 of the slide 8, said parts laterally protruding from the guide channels 14 and 15 and unto the apexes 18 of the lateral edges of the slide 8.

The cover plates of the slide 8 are laterally protruding in parallel relationship to the plane of the tapes 2 and perpendicularly to the tangent b to the row 1 of closure members for a distance c from the lateral borders (flanges) 13 of the guide channels 14 and 15, respectively, said distance c, in the embodiment shown, approximately corresponding to five times the mean thickness d of the cover plates 9 and 10 of the slide 8. With this the apexes 18 of the edges of the slide are inserted into the slots 9 between the tapes 2 and the cover lips 6 and 7, respectively, to such an extent that the cover lips are protected from being grasped by the slide 8 and being jammed in the slot 16 thereof. This effect is improved on account of the width of said slot 16 not exceeding the distance a unto the apexes 18 of the edges of the slide.

The parts of the slide 8, laterally protruding over the guide channels 14 and 15 are with respect to both directions of movement of the slide delimited by edged 21 and 22, being inclined, seen in a top plan view, relative to direction of movement of the slide for 30-60 preferably 45 so that the lateral edges of the slide 8 engage the slots 19 like a plough and lift off the cover lips 6 and 7, respectively.

In the embodiment shown, the closure members are formed by hooks, which are individually fixed to the tapes 2. The invention, however, is also useful with other types of zipfasteners, for instance where the rows of closure members are formed by coils incorporated into the tapes.

What l claim is:

l. A slide fastener comprising pieces of fabric having attached thereto engageable and disengageable interlocking fastener elements, a slider for engaging and disengaging said fastener elements, comprising upper and lower cover plates in substantially parallel relation, said cover plates having opposed recesses in the adjacent surfaces for receiving said fastener elements slidably, said recesses having curvilinear sides diverging outwardly to form two guide channels at one end of said slider which longitudinally converge to a single guide channel at the opposite end of said slider, said cover plates having two sets of generally rectilinear sides each set extending outwardly from the longitudinal axis of said cover plate beyond the curvilinear sides of said recesses thereby forming flanges having enlarged opposing faces, with the generally rectilinear sides in each set converging towards each other ending in a curvilinear apex which joins the converging sides, a side of each pair substantially at a forward apex at said one end of said slider and said sides of each pair forming an angle between 30 and 60 to the longitudinal axis of the slider, said curvilinear apexes which join the two sets of rectilinear sides being disposed approximately midway between the longitudinal ends of said cover plates with the width of said cover plates from apex to apex being greater than the longitudinal length of said slider, the outer faces of said slider tapering toward said apexes.

2. A slide fastener as claimed in claim 1 wherein the angle formed by the converging sides with respect to the longitudinal axis of the slider is 45.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION 3,604 ,070 September 14 1971 Patent No. Dated Inventor(s) Susanne Vorsteher It is certified that error appears in the aboveidentified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

On the cover sheet [73] "Assignee Anba Sportmode Vorsteher LG. Vienna, Austria" should read Assignee Anba Sportmode Vorsteher K.G Vienna, Austria fractional part interest H Signed and sealed this 3rd day of October 1972.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M. FLJZ'ICHPR ,JR. ROBERT GOTTSCl-IALK Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents 

1. A slide fastener comprising pieces of fabric having attached thereto engageable and disengageable interlocking fastener elements, a slider for engaging and disengaging said fastener elements, comprising upper and lower cover plates in substantially parallel relation, said cover plates having opposed recesses in the adjacent surfaces for receiving said fastener elements slidably, said recesses having curvilinear sides diverging outwardly to form two guide channels at one end of said slider which longitudinally converge to a single guide channel at the opposite end of said slider, said cover plates having two sets of generally rectilinear sides each set extending outwardly from the longitudinal axis of said cover plate beyond the curvilinear sides of said recesses thereby forming flanges having enlarged opposing faces, with the generally rectilinear sides in each set converging towards each other ending in a curvilinear apex which joins the converging sides, a side of each pair substantially at a forward apex at said one end of said slider and said sides of each pair forming an angle between 30* and 60* to the longitudinal axis of the slider, said curvilinear apexes which join the two sets of rectilinear sides being disposed approximately midway between the longitudinal ends of said cover plates with the width of said cover plates from apex to apex being greater than the longitudinal length of said slider, the outer faces of said slider tapering toward said apexes.
 2. A slide fastener as claimed in claim 1 wherein the angle formed by the convergiNg sides with respect to the longitudinal axis of the slider is 45*. 